Cat’s-eye Tourmaline

Among the stones that can be cut to show a star or eye effect, mosteveryone is familiar with star sapphires, Idaho star garnets, and of course theubiquitous tiger-eye. Even opals can sometimes cat’s-eye. But it was not untilI visited my friend Carol Bova that I learned tourmaline could also yield avery attractive cat’s-eye stone.

By now, I’ve cut quite a few of these — both on Carol’s Genie and on myown Graves CabMate. While it isn’t rocket science, there are a few quirks towatch out for.